Camino de Santiago update 2/16

[bethbuchall]

What beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing this with us. It is very interesting and looks like such a great experience.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I'm loving your photos and your trip. My cousins live near the northern route, and I've seen the shell - I was really excited to see it. I can't imagine actually walking the Camino. What a dream.

What do the red & white lines mean by the arrow?

 

[DisneyFreak06]

What beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing this with us. It is very interesting and looks like such a great experience.

Thank you! It really was.

I'm loving your photos and your trip. My cousins live near the northern route, and I've seen the shell - I was really excited to see it. I can't imagine actually walking the Camino. What a dream.

What do the red & white lines mean by the arrow?

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Thanks. I remember seeing the shell while in Spain in 2011. It was fun to follow it a few hours. Then following the shells and arrows for ... days... on end! Hahahaha

Part of the French Way are on the same path as a walking/biking path in France. The Grande Randonée. I had to look it up because all I could remember was GR 65. So for a while, there are others that are technically not walking the Camino, but doing another hiking trail.

 

[prprincess]

Love the photos!! This is something that I've been interested in for quite some time. The pastor at my parish completed it last year, and then one of my favorite actors just completed it and documented his journey on Instagram. Maybe someday I'll get there myself!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Love the photos!! This is something that I've been interested in for quite some time. The pastor at my parish completed it last year, and then one of my favorite actors just completed it and documented his journey on Instagram. Maybe someday I'll get there myself!

Oh I'm always curious when celebrities do it! Who was that? I know that Lisa Whelchel (Facts of Life) just did it this year as well. I hope you get to do it! I know I'll be back. Likely in 2 or 3 years. I hope.

 

[prprincess]

Oh I'm always curious when celebrities do it! Who was that? I know that Lisa Whelchel (Facts of Life) just did it this year as well. I hope you get to do it! I know I'll be back. Likely in 2 or 3 years. I hope.

Have you ever heard of actor/singer Carlos Ponce? He is popular in Latin America, but has was on Devious Maids and 7th Heaven. Author Paulo Coehlo has also completed it.

 

[ludari]

Great photos, thanks for sharing your trip experience.
My friend completed a large portion of Camino this year as well and had wonderful things to say about her trip. She invited me to go but as an avid hiker/backpacker I didn't like that fact the trek involved roads, sleeping in hostels, and the trail is crowded. I go on hiking/backpacking trips for the solitude, being/sleeping outdoors, cooking my own food and enjoying being surrounded by nature. Nevertheless my friend returned from her Camino trip a new person with a better outlook on life, family and said her trip was very spiritual for her. She plans to return to complete the entire Camino in 2018 and invited me to go. I told her I would join her but because of time commitments I cannot join her in France and would have to catch up with her someplace in Spain. I've been doing some reading on the Camino to determine where we should meet up but we have plenty of time to plan.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Have you ever heard of actor/singer Carlos Ponce? He is popular in Latin America, but has was on Devious Maids and 7th Heaven. Author Paulo Coehlo has also completed it.

Oh I remember him from 7th Heaven. (Although I had to look him up). I may have to see if I can find something about his Camino. He`s definitely one good looking fella!

Great photos, thanks for sharing your trip experience.
My friend completed a large portion of Camino this year as well and had wonderful things to say about her trip. She invited me to go but as an avid hiker/backpacker I didn't like that fact the trek involved roads, sleeping in hostels, and the trail is crowded. I go on hiking/backpacking trips for the solitude, being/sleeping outdoors, cooking my own food and enjoying being surrounded by nature. Nevertheless my friend returned from her Camino trip a new person with a better outlook on life, family and said her trip was very spiritual for her. She plans to return to complete the entire Camino in 2018 and invited me to go. I told her I would join her but because of time commitments I cannot join her in France and would have to catch up with her someplace in Spain. I've been doing some reading on the Camino to determine where we should meet up but we have plenty of time to plan.

Thanks! I did find lots of time for solitude and being outside. I didn`t sleep outside (thankfully - I`m not too into that!), but we did see a few people who were doing that. Maybe you`ll be able to compromise a little and find some space to sleep outside. Tenting is not usually permitted, but I saw a few people sleeping on benches etc.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Sorry I've been neglecting you!

July 5, 2016

We walked from Roncessvalles to Zubiri, which was about a 22km walk (maybe 13.5 miles?) It was a little misty/foggy that morning, so we started out with our ponchos/pack covers on. We walked to the next town to buy some breakfast.

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We often had to move to the side to let others pass. I am a slow walker, and I was so busy taking everything in all the time!

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Here is my friend Sunfrid pretending she's the Hunchback beckoning me on!

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Walking through some sheep:

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Our first time seeing crosses in the fences...

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R waiting for me...

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Our friends took longer breaks, but walked faster, so they often caught up, stayed with us a bit, then went ahead. Or walked with us until our next break.

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I liked to take pictures of the different types of paths we walked on, especially to show others and for me to remember!

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This was on my friend's pack. I had a metal print made out of one of my shots and had this printed on it.

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We were very happy it was not raining when we were walking on this path!

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But it was beautiful, if a little hard to keep from slipping.

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We got to an albergue and knocked on the door. I asked for four beds in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish, but I can pronounce the words, so I asked. And he rambled in Spanish, but gave us four beds! I have no clue if we stole someone else's beds. It was a lovely, very clean spot. He showed the other girls where there was a key in case we went out, but he gave me a key and told me to leave it on his desk in the morning. I guess he knew I wouldn't be able to reach the hiding place! We were pleased that in the morning, he had breakfast set up and covered in saran wrap.

After cleaning up, we went down for some supper at a nearby pub. We laughed at how hard it was to get up again once you sat for a bit!

Oh how I miss these ladies!

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[ols386]

Really enjoying your pictures. Thanks for posting.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Really enjoying your pictures. Thanks for posting.

Thanks. I'm glad you're enjoying them.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

July 6, 2016

We walked from Zubiri to Zabaldika. I believe it was about 13 km (8 miles). It wasn't a long walk, but we really wanted to start slow and build up. We had lots of time, we were only flying out of Madrid on August 10th. We walked a little out of the way to stay in a little place run by some Sisters. It was a beautiful place and it was quite emotional. We went to a multilingual mass (one reading in English, one Spanish, the Priest only spoke Spanish) after having explored their beautiful old church. We then had supper and had a little prayer service/sharing after dessert and clean up. It was very emotional and my friend was able to let go of some of her issues that she was working on. Pretty good seeing as it was our 4th day walking. I wish I had her pictures (she's working on that!) because I got some sweet ones of her hugging and crying with the Nun that helped her.

Here we go!

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Sometimes we had to walk on stairs. I was odd, the stairs and going downhill never bothered me, but going up always did. Most other people really struggled with going down. I say it's my little steps I took.

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Another different surface we walked on:

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It's nice to have friends... they help you take off your pants! Hahahaha

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Or at least try to...

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Sometimes you just made do with what you had.

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Real poppies!

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Taking a break to air out our feet.

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My orange pack. I was trying to dry my soap that I'd bought. It's a shampoo bar and it got slimy and gross.

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We just couldn't get away from these two! They kept finding us everywhere. Hahaha (Good thing we adored them!)

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If you've seen the movie The Way, you'll remember the part when his bag falls in the water. This is where that happened.

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As you can see, even in the run of one day, the ground surface changed regularly, which is why good shoes/boots are important. I, of course, had sneakers. I could not find the right footwear. I struggle with that anyways because I have bunions, so I need a wide toe box but really small heel. And I have little feet too.

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These two had the most incredible laughs.

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Walking this path and looking at all the greenery really reminded me of a Fairyland.

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[Cruisinskier]

Really enjoying your review / report. The Camino has been something I have wanted to do for some time but have not yet made it there. One of my really good friends has walked it. And another who is just recovering from an illness has also wanted to go....maybe that will be our reason to go. Your photos are fantastic and the scenery is beautiful! I look forward to following the rest of your report!
Jerry

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Really enjoying your review / report. The Camino has been something I have wanted to do for some time but have not yet made it there. One of my really good friends has walked it. And another who is just recovering from an illness has also wanted to go....maybe that will be our reason to go. Your photos are fantastic and the scenery is beautiful! I look forward to following the rest of your report!
Jerry

Hi Jerry! I'm glad you're enjoying my adventure. It was amazing and I really hope you'll get to go on your own Way. It was incredible and I hope to go back and do it again. There are many routes, but I think I want to do this one again. I just loved it.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

July 7, 2016
Zabaldika to Uterga. Around 30km.

It was the start of the Festival of St. Fermin in Pamplona. It's when they do the running of the bulls and everyone is in red and white. And drunk, very, very drunk. We left a very peaceful place and arrived in Pamplona by 9:30 in the morning. The first edges of the city were very, very quiet. Then we got closer to the party areas and we were seeing people who were still feeling the affects of the partying. There was no way we would have been able to get a place to stay in Pamplona, and I was glad for that. It was not the feel I was going for on my pilgrimage.

We passed by some familiar scenes from the movie "The Way" again. You'll see them later on.

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Another early morning start. Those early mornings worked well for us. R and I left before the rest of our friends. We were happy for that as well, as some of the others got lost and then ended up losing their beds at the albergue that night.

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We were a little confused by the grafiti.

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*** It really is Spain, but many locals believe this area of Spain and the nearby area of France is considered it's own country, the Pays Basque.

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For some reason I was fascinated with doors and I took many pictures of doors.

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Sometimes our signs looked like this one.

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But we learned that the distance written on the signs was not always accurate. That is quite understandable because they do change the routes sometimes.

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Pamplona!

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Sometimes the arrows were easy to spot.

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I loved this sign up above to show people where the garbage cans were!

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Eventually we saw some friends catch up with us!

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This was where we were sitting when something funny happened. We were always very friendly saying "Buenos Dios" to the locals. A woman started speaking Spanish to us and my friend was like 'No, I don't understand!" And I said "Yo no hablo espagnol". I am fluent in French, and I took Spanish 101 and 102 my first year of University (oh my gosh! 20+ years ago!) so I can say a few things. Well, she looked at me and said "Si, si, habla espagnol" and proceeded to tell us some stories! I was able to grasp a word here or there so I would tell R what she said. She'd nod to tell me I had it right. At the end she walked away shaking her head saying "Habla espagnol!" Hahahaha.

(I have to say I love that there is a back button here. I'm working on a laptop and I just accidentally deleted all the way up to the garbage can comment... glad I got it back.)

We all stopped for a snack at the edge of town because we had no clue when we'd be in civilization again.

R was excited to have a Pepsi. I was not drinking anything carbonated (all I drank was water, Aquarius - a yummy lemonade that helps replenish electrolytes and OJ) for the walk, so I didn't buy any. Those cheetos were little soccer (football to them) balls that were hickory flavoured. Quite good!